by Knopf
First published 1994
Danny spends hours shooting hoops in his driveway, determined to become the basketball star he knows he can be. The ten-year-old practices constantly, driven by skill and something deeper. His father works as a mechanic and fills quiet moments with tales from his own high school basketball glory days. Danny listens to every story, waiting for the moment his dad will notice his improvement and offer the praise he craves. Season after season, Danny's game gets stronger. His shots find their mark more often. His footwork sharpens. Other people see his progress, but the recognition Danny wants most never comes. His father's drinking creates a wall between them that Danny's athletic achievements cannot break through. The boy faces a painful truth about earning love from someone who struggles to give it. This story explores how children navigate disappointment while holding onto hope, set against the backdrop of youth sports and family dysfunction.
Genres: contemporary, sports, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: disappointment, found-family, unreliable-narrator
135 pages · Hardcover · Knopf Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse